Mobile fan module
A fan module for use in a computer or server is disclosed to include a rack, which defines a holding chamber and has a plurality of guiding grooves symmetrically disposed at two sides inside the holding chamber, and a plurality of locating plates insertable into the rack at different elevations to carry a respective fan in the holding chamber, each locating plate having two guiding portions symmetrically disposed at two sides and insertable into two sliding grooves at same elevation inside the rack without the use of any tool.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fan module for use in a computer, electronic apparatus, etc., and more particularly, to a mobile fan module in which fans of different sizes may be selectively detachably installed in the rack thereof without the use of any tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
Following fast development of high technology, lighter, thinner, shorter and smaller are becoming the key words for electronic instruments, including personal computers. Electronic instruments of new generation use sophisticated semiconductor chips or devices that release heat during operation. For example, an advanced personal computer uses a sophisticated CPU (Central Processing Unit) and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for processing any of a variety of data. These electronic devices release much heat during operation. The amount of heat energy released by these electronic devices during operation may be relatively increased subject to their operation speed. The working temperature of a CPU is normally at about 60˜95° C. In order to keep normal working of the CPU, GPU and other heat-releasing electronic devices in a computer or electronic apparatus, heat must be quickly carried away. Currently, electric fans are used to cause currents of air for dissipating heat. It is practical to use currents of air as a working medium for dissipation of heat without causing damage to electronic component parts. Various fan modules have been disclosed for this purpose.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the fan module is comprised of a rack and a fan detachably mounted in the rack. The rack is modularized for mass production to reduce the cost, and adapted to accommodate one of a series of fans of different sizes. The selected fan can easily and detachably be installed in the rack without the use of any tool.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the rack of the fan module is connectable to a holder frame inside a computer or server and slidable on the holder frame before fixation, so that the user can adjustably affix the fan module to the holder frame at the optimum position to dissipate heat efficiently.
Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
Referring to
Referring to
During installation, the fan 12 is fastened to one locating plate 115 and then inserted with the locating plate 115 into two guiding grooves 111 at same elevation in the holding chamber 110 of the rack 11, and then the fan module 1 is placed on the flat elongated frame base 21 of the holder frame 2 to have the sliding groove 113 of the rack 111 be coupled to the rail 22 of the holder frame 2 and to have the sliding portion 112 of the rack 111 be stopped at the front side of the holder frame 2, and then the fan module 1 is moved on the flat elongated frame base 21 along the rail 22 to the desired position. Because the sliding groove 113 of the rack 111 is coupled to the rail 22 of the holder frame 2 and the sliding portion 112 of the rack 111 is stopped at the front side of the holder frame 2, the fan module 1 can be moved on the flat elongated frame base 21 along the rail 22 smoothly without vibration.
Referring to
Referring to
As indicated above, the fan module 1 has a rack 11 with a sliding portion 112 and a sliding groove 113 for connection to a holder frame 2, allowing the user to move the fan module 1 along the rail 22 of the holder frame 2 to the desired portion in vertical alignment with one wind hole 211. When wishing to detach the fan 12 from the rack 111 for a replacement or repair work, the user can directly remove the respective locating plate 115 from the rack 111 and then detach the fan 12 from the locating plate 115 without the use of any tool. After replacement or repair work, the new or well-repaired fan 12 is fastened to the locating plate 115 and then inserted with the locating plate 115 into the rack 11 again.
A prototype of fan module has been constructed with the features of the annexed drawings of
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are to be regarded as a departure from the spririt and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A fan module, comprising:
- at least one fan;
- a rack, said rack having a holding chamber adapted to accommodate said at least one fan, and a plurality of guiding grooves symmetrically disposed at two sides of the inside of said holding chamber; and
- at least one locating plate adapted to carry said at least one fan respectively in said holding chamber of said rack, said at least locating plate having two guiding portions symmetrically disposed at two sides and insertable into two of said plurality of guiding grooves at the same elevation inside said rack,
- wherein said rack comprises a sliding portion transversely provided at a front side thereof and a sliding groove transversely provided at a rear side thereof.
2. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rack further comprises an opening at each of top and bottom sides thereof.
3. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a holder frame for holding said rack inside the mainframe of an electronic apparatus, said holder frame having a flat elongated frame base, a plurality of wind holes cut through top and bottom sides of said flat elongated frame base, a rail extended along a rear side of said flat elongated frame base, and a plurality of mounting holes arranged in a line along a front side of said fiat elongated frame base.
4. The fan module as claimed in claim 3, wherein said holder frame further comprises two end flanges perpendicularly downwardly extending from two distal ends of said flat elongated frame base.
5. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one locating plate comprises a center opening, and a plurality of bottom mounting rods for fastening to said at least one fan.
6. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one fan has a plurality of vertically extended mounting through holes for fastening to said at least one locating plate.
7. A fan module, comprising:
- at least one fan;
- a rack, said rack having a holding chamber adapted to accommodate said at least one fan, and a plurality of guiding grooves symmetrically disposed at two sides of the inside of said holding chamber;
- at least one locating plate adapted to carry said at least one fan respectively in said holding chamber of said rack, said at least one locating plate having two guiding portions symmetrically disposed at two sides and insertable into two of said plurality of guiding grooves at the same elevation inside said rack; and
- a holder frame for holding said rack inside the mainframe of an electronic apparatus, said holder frame having a flat elongated frame base, a plurality of wind holes cut through top and bottom sides of said flat elongated frame base, a rail extended along a rear side of said flat elongated frame base, and a plurality of mounting holes arranged in a line along a front side of said flat elongated frame base.
8. The fan module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rack further comprises an opening at each of top and bottom sides thereof.
9. The fan module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said rack comprises a sliding portion transversely provided at a front side thereof and a sliding groove transversely provided at a rear side thereof.
10. The fan module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said holder frame further comprises two end flanges perpendicularly downwardly extending from two distal ends of said flat elongated frame base.
11. The fan module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one locating plate comprises a center opening, and a plurality of bottom mounting rods for fastening to said at least one fan.
12. The fan module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one fan has a plurality of vertically extended mounting through holes for fastening to said at least one locating plate.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 6, 2004
Date of Patent: Aug 21, 2007
Patent Publication Number: 20060120040
Assignee: Chenbro Micom Co., Ltd. (Chung-Ho, Taipei Hsien)
Inventor: Feng-Ming Chen (Taipei)
Primary Examiner: Greg Thompson
Attorney: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Application Number: 10/904,921
International Classification: H05K 7/20 (20060101); H05K 5/00 (20060101);